ZIP a deedo dah

This morning it is beautiful and clear. That makes the sun super hot. The 50 sunscreen still makes me feel like I am burning. Our first excursion today is the ZIP line in the Jungle. Very Cool! An American owns some property and created a zip line. His business actually makes them all over the world. We went way up into the mountains and spent two hours harnessing ourselves up to cables and sliding down. Twice we went over rivers. Our guides were amazing, too. Their names were Michael and Seraviu. They both were parents, so told us a lot about real life in Fiji. We also got botanical and zoological information. It was nice to talk to people who know about the land they live on.

Michael said that laws had been passed lately, which I think means a few years, that reinforced the Fijian way. It is more than a custom to be modest in public; it is the law for Fijians. No short shorts, or bikini tops, or strappy tank tops in the villages. They also are trying to keep the Fijian culture slow like it was originally. Therefore, you cannot eat and walk through a village. If you eat, you must sit and eat. When you are done, you may walk around. There really isn't crime or drugs in Fiji because people are very happy here with the way their life is. They don't need more then what the land can provide.

We began talking about politics. The are actually very politically educated. When the Iraqi War broke out, the British, being that they were a British Colony, came to recruit Fijians for the War. 12,000 Fijians went to Iraq, and so far, 6,800 have come back in body bags. In a country of 800,00 that is a lot of warriors. The Fijians believe in raising your children to be respectable and responsible. They believe that it is the parents job. A unruly child is the fault of a parent. Respect and honor are paramount in their culture. It is nice to see a culture that does what is right.

The Fijians also believe in natural remedies. "Tablets only make it better for a second." They showed us a root that Cures asthma. They had a zip liner last week that was having an attack. They mashed the root and she decided to stay in Fiji longer to see how to get more root. We saw a plant that acts as a calendar. When it blooms, the flower signifies that it is time to dig for Wild Yams or fish for Cod. The vine stretches up to the tops of trees and the flower is the size of a large basketball and bright white. You can see it from anywhere. This helps the people know that it is time. Amazing how the Earth works.

Loren will love this. We saw a bunch of millipedes. They were big and small. They ate bark off trees and left trails. They are extremely poisonous; they were really neat to look at. I took pictures. On the way home, Chris saw young boys fishing. We had to stop and look at their fish. We have been told they have trout in the river, but these didn't look like trout. We have pictures of them, too.

We have been told by the guides that the real name of Fiji is Viti, but the Samoans told Captain Cook the wrong pronunciation. So Fiji is what it has been called since then.

I am slightly disappointed because we are south of the Equator. I have always heard that toilets swirl backwards. Well, these toilets don't swirl, so I am bummed. The hot and cold water handles are backwards though.

Today, we sat by the beach when we got back. We watched the young kids Horse Board. When I saw it on the list of things to do, I thought that it meant you could keep your horses here for free. Not at all, it is a combination between surfing and water skiing as one is drug by a horse. Quite funny! People were not very successful!

Finally, we must talk about food. Last night for dessert, I had grilled pineapple soaked in sweet chili sauce. It was so interesting. We had whipped cream with it, but their whipped cream isn't sweetened.

Well, tomorrow is white water rafting all day. we must be up and out of here by 6 am. That is 3 am your time. We sure do miss our girls and love them deeply.

More tomorrow.